The cyclic length of a p-group need not be logarithmic (Q1087639)

The cyclic length \(\ell (G)\) of a finite group G is defined to be the smallest number \(\ell\) such that there is a series \(G=N_ 0>N_ 1>...>N_{\ell}=1\) where \(N_ 0,N_ 1,...,N_{\ell}\) are \(\ell +1\) different normal subgroups of G and all factor groups \(N_{i-1}/N_ i\) \((i=1,...,\ell)\) are cyclic. L. Rédei asked the question whether or not the cyclic length has a logarithmic property on the class of p-groups; i.e. does \(\ell (G_ 1\times G_ 2)=\ell (G_ 1)+\ell (G_ 2)\) hold, whenever \(G_ 1\), \(G_ 2\) are p-groups? In this note the question is answered in the negative. In particular it is proved that to each abelian p-group H a p-group G can be assigned such that \(\ell (G\times H)<\ell (G)+\ell (H)\) takes place.